Cherry Amaretto Sidecar Cocktail

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Almost sidecar, almost amaretto sour, this cocktail beautifully balances the cherries’ sweetness with the subtle nutty notes of amaretto and the citrus tang of fresh lemon. This drink isn’t boozy, it is- as it should be- mostly about the cherries.

When the first cherries arrive they seem so grand, so dark and decadent, a reminder that all winter long if you saw a cherry it was just an anemic shadow compared to the firm yet sweet cherries now before you. These are the cherries that songs are written about, these are the cherries that invite carnal comparisons. These are the cherries worth staining my fingers for.

All about the Amaretto

I spent an hour or so on the internet deciding which amaretto to buy only to discover that the brand I intended was available by special order only here in Oregon. Ahh the blessing/curse of state-run liquor stores: you pay the same at every location and there is a database of what’s on the shelf at every liquor store in the state. Allow me to summarize my research for you here:

DiSarrano- ubiquitous, available in more than one size (A plus considering how rarely I use Amaretto), but widely ridiculed by commenters for being too sweet, inauthentic, and mass produced. Contains no nuts, though allergies usually don’t transfer to liquor. The DiSaranno story on their website begins with a Madonna model in 1525.

Lazzaroni- The other ‘original’ amaretto. The most expensive of the three alternates and apparently made from the essence of a cookie, it fact they call it a ‘liquid cookie’ on their baked goods website (which is far better reading than the liqueurs’ webpage). I’ll try it next time.

Luxardo– the most recommended of all the major alternates, the one I woulda if I coulda. Drier than others, with a hint of vanilla.

Gozio-another fan favorite, several tasters felt it had the most straight forward almond taste. Originally in the grappa game Gozio started making amaretto using a ‘secret formula’ in the 1950s. This is the amaretto I ultimately went with. It isn’t cloyingly sweet which I appreciate but comparisons are moot given the years and years and years it’s been since I last had Amaretto.
https://youtu.be/pljmwwxgL2E

Cherry Amaretto Sidecar Cocktail

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Cherry Amaretto Sidecar Cocktail

a deliciously refreshing cocktail you can make with fresh or frozen sweet cherries

5 from 2 votes

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Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Cocktail, Drinks

Cuisine Blender Drinks

Servings 2 drinks

Equipment

• blender

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 ounces amaretto liqueur
• 2 ounces brandy
• 2 ounces fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 5 ounces by weight pitted fresh sweet cherries approximately one cup of whole cherries
• crushed ice

Instructions

 

• Combine amaretto, brandy, lemon juice, and cherries is a blender and puree until mostly smooth, about 1-2 minutes.
• Fill a 14 ounce glass with the finely crushed or shaved ice and top with the pureed cherry mixture.

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